2001 Suburban 5.3l pinging & oil usage

[drm7]

Oil consumption question:
I bought a 2001 Suburban about 10 months ago with 45,000 miles. I changed the oil and added Auto-RX. At 47,000 I change the oil again for the rinse phase. At 50,000 I changed the oil to M1 5w30 EP. I have put 5000 miles on this oil and I've added 2 qts and I may need to add another 1/2 - 1 qt.

I really didn't see any oil usage on the other short OCIs. Is it common for the 5.3l to use some oil?

Engine ping question:
The above 5.3l pings like someone playing the piano. It is very bad. I know some vehicles will ping slightly and you can increase throttle and it goes away but this thing pings worse than any car I've ever owned. Could it be carbon? Should I seafoam it through the intake? I can't run 93 oct at these prices. Besides, it's rated for 87. 93 is only masking the problem.

Thanks guys!!!

 

[Bagger_Matt]

for the ping try a can of BG44K in the gaas tank, it stopped the pinging on my 3.0 ford ranger.

 

[427Z06]

quote:

---

Originally posted by drm7:
I really didn't see any oil usage on the other short OCIs. Is it common for the 5.3l to use some oil?

---

It's been often reported that the initial switch to Mobil 1 will often result in higher oil consumption the first OCI. I would personally wait to the end of the second OCI before I decided on the next course of action.

However, you most immediate problem to be solved is the pinging, which is most likely detonation in the combustion chamber. Detonation will pound your pistons, rings, bearings, etc, to death in short order. There are several ways to clean your combustion chambers, here's one you might want to read about:

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=002866;p=1#000000


GM Top Engine Cleaner(liquid) is another option.

[ July 26, 2005, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: 427Z06 ]

 

[The Critic]

quote:

---

Originally posted by drm7:
Oil consumption question:
I bought a 2001 Suburban about 10 months ago with 45,000 miles. I changed the oil and added Auto-RX. At 47,000 I change the oil again for the rinse phase. At 50,000 I changed the oil to M1 5w30 EP. I have put 5000 miles on this oil and I've added 2 qts and I may need to add another 1/2 - 1 qt.

I really didn't see any oil usage on the other short OCIs. Is it common for the 5.3l to use some oil?

Engine ping question:
The above 5.3l pings like someone playing the piano. It is very bad. I know some vehicles will ping slightly and you can increase throttle and it goes away but this thing pings worse than any car I've ever owned. Could it be carbon? Should I seafoam it through the intake? I can't run 93 oct at these prices. Besides, it's rated for 87. 93 is only masking the problem.

Thanks guys!!!

---

Hi,
A buddy of mine on Acurazine has the same problem. Dealer diagnosed the problem as excessive carbon buildup, and was cleaned up by the dealer for $80.

Even then, the pinging was only gone when using 91. Right now, the car is using FP60 at every fill up with LC20 in the engine oil and is now able to run with 89 without pinging.

Michael

 

[drm7]

After following the link posted by 427Z06 I have a question: which is a better solvent for going through the intake, Sea Foam or LC? I think I'll try the intake method before trying the overnight soak.

I wonder if a good test would be to take an iron skilet used for cooking that has a good coat of carbon and put Sea Foam on one side and LC on the other?

 

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Consider installing colder running AC Delco plugs. Go down 1 or 2 notches on the same type of plug. Engines run hotter these days by design (better mpg) and because they often have smaller capacity radiators, smaller oil sumps, and receive less airflow cooling. ECMs are also set for lean-burn. The result is engine ping. This is a common solution to a common problem.

It could also be that your plugs just need replacing. 100,000 mile platinum plugs often need to be replaced at 50,000 miles.

[ July 27, 2005, 12:05 PM: Message edited by: TxGreaseMonkey ]

 

[Mike_dup1]

I had a 2001 GMC 5.3L pickup that pinged all the time. Nothing, I repeat nothing solved the problem. Not higher octance fuel, add gas additives or even things the dealer did. I drove the truck 3 yrs like this and lived with it. Sold and got a new 2004. The current owner says the truck runs great and had no complaints.

A relative who works for GMC dealer says most all of them do this to some extent, some more the others. Many things contribute to this, carbon being the main reason. Driving habits, gasoline brands, frequent idling and slow city driving all add to the carbon build up.

I know it bothers you but you will likley never solve the problem even though you spend all your money trying.

 

[drm7]

Mike: thanks for the info. I think!

I plan on trying Deep Creep (Sea Foam) into the intake and see how that works. I can't afford 93 oct at the current prices.

TxGreaseMonkey: I am planning on new plugs before winter as I never run these 100k plugs past about 60k. If I don't solve the ping by then maybe I'll try a colder plug. Can you remind me what it means to get a colder/hotter plug? I just can't seem to remember. The plugs on these engines are like $8 so I don't want to get new plugs then change them again. Ouch!

 

[Mike_dup1]

93 octane did little for my 2001. Be careful with stuff you stuff into the intake. I was told GM no longer recommends this approach as it can have adverse affect on the engine, ruin the spark plugs and contaminate the oil, not to mention dislodge chunks of carbon that could lead to engine damage. Will it happen, don't know but it seems risky to me to do this yourself, at least if GM does it you got experience doing it.

Also GM Parts has a engine cleaner that is formulated for use in the fuel tank, many have seen good results with it. Did not help my truck.

quote:

---

Fuel System Treatment
Cleans carbon deposits from carburetors, fuel injectors, intake valves, intake ports, and combustion chambers.
12 oz. size treats up to 12 gallons of fuel and is designed for small cars and trucks. 20 oz. size treats up to 20 gallons of fuel and is designed for larger cars, light-duty trucks, and sport utility vehicles.

Size:
12 oz. 12345515
20oz. 12345104

---

There is a specific procedure the dealers used and it involved removing the plugs and soaking for a period of time. Then cleaning it out before starting up the engine. Thats the jist of what they explained to me, they kept my truck overnight to do this. But it only lasted a few weeks and slowly returned. The engine design and the EPA regulations are where my dealer placed all the blame for the carbon.

btw-My 1999 K2500 work suburban pinged that same way and was still running very good when the lease was up in 2003 at over 125,000 miles.

 

[TxGreaseMonkey]

drm7, colder plugs are ones that cool off faster than normal. The heat path in the plug is shorter and heat is carried away faster. I had terrible ping in my Civic at first. So much so that I thought I was going to wreck the engine. I thought about putting in a lower temperature thermostat but decided this was a much better solution. Now, I have no ping, even running the A/C in 100 degree weather going 70 mph. I went to a NGK plug guide on-line and found what plug would be the next colder running plug. In fact, I had to go to even the next colder running plug to totally solve the problem. Honda should have known this about the vehicle. My performance and gas mileage have not suffered at all. You need to do the same thing for AC-Delco plugs. I recommend you don't use any plug but AC-Delco in your GM product.

If the ping goes away when you use higher octane gas, then you are a candidate for the solution above.

 

[drm7]

It sounds like I'm going to wreck my engine with the amount of pinging I have. 93 octane does stop it so maybe I'll try the colder plug. I bought some Deep Creep to run through the intake too. Maybe the combination will make it tolerable.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[TxGreaseMonkey]

drm7, give us an update when you solve the problem.

 

[drm7]

TxGreaseMonkey: I'll update once I've tried a thing or two. It may be a couple weeks before I have the time to do anything.

 

[BlazerLT]

quote:

---

Originally posted by drm7:
Mike: thanks for the info. I think!

I plan on trying Deep Creep (Sea Foam) into the intake and see how that works. I can't afford 93 oct at the current prices.

TxGreaseMonkey: I am planning on new plugs before winter as I never run these 100k plugs past about 60k. If I don't solve the ping by then maybe I'll try a colder plug. Can you remind me what it means to get a colder/hotter plug? I just can't seem to remember. The plugs on these engines are like $8 so I don't want to get new plugs then change them again. Ouch!

---

Just to let you know, the GM rad caps are really poor and don't allow the cooling system to maintain the 15psi needed to keep engine temperatures down.

I had pinging, I replaced the rad cap with a stant and no more pinging.

 

[427Z06]

quote:

---

Originally posted by BlazerLT:
Just to let you know, the GM rad caps are really poor and don't allow the cooling system to maintain the 15psi needed to keep engine temperatures down.

I had pinging, I replaced the rad cap with a stant and no more pinging.

---

Interesting, did you have the old cap pressure tested?

On another note, this engine would be a good test of FP60. If cleaning of the combustion chambers solves the ping problem, then run FP60 to see if it prevents the ping problem from returning.

 

[The Critic]

Like I said above, I told the person whom I knew, who had the same problem, and FP60 and LC20 are delivering excellent results.

That Suburban is currently running on 89 and FP60 at every fill-up. Should be able to move down to 87 soon.

Michael

 

[BlazerLT]

quote:

---

Originally posted by 427Z06:

quote:

---

Originally posted by BlazerLT:
Just to let you know, the GM rad caps are really poor and don't allow the cooling system to maintain the 15psi needed to keep engine temperatures down.

I had pinging, I replaced the rad cap with a stant and no more pinging.

---

Interesting, did you have the old cap pressure tested?

On another note, this engine would be a good test of FP60. If cleaning of the combustion chambers solves the ping problem, then run FP60 to see if it prevents the ping problem from returning.

---

Oddly enough, Dexcool in most cases isn't the cause of sludge or cooling problems on GM vehicles, it is the rad cap that causes most of the issues by letting air in when cooling and not holding 15psi pressure when in use.

http://www.imcool.com/articles/antifreeze-coolant/dexcool-macs2001.htm

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

I bought a 2001 5.3 Silverado new. Thankfully, I don't have oil consumption problems, using Mobil 1 since 10,000 miles. It ran great on 87, as the owner's manual specifies, but began to ping around 15,000 miles. Dealer service departments were no help--I think the majority of their service writer training must be in ways to say "That noise is normal" with a straight face. Some will embellish with anecdotes like "My wife's Tahoe does that too."

Eventually, 87 octane made the thing rattle like a diesel. With 89 octane, there was still a loud, constant ping that would not stop until I let off the throttle during high-rpm situations, like passing on a 2-lane. It also pinged badly when climbing mountain grades. In hot weather with A/C, there's a constant, lighter rattle in city cruising conditions, in both 3rd gear and overdrive. I've even heard it ping going DOWNHILL in town. When I lived in Arkansas, Shell 93 octane would get rid of most, but not all, ping. The best available here is 91. I made the mistake of using 85 once during the move out.

Here's what I've tried to correct the problem: Techron, Red Line SI-1, and Seafoam in the fuel; Seafoam through the brake booster line--no noticeable difference from any.

180-degree thermostat last summer (stock is 187, I discovered)--no difference.

Regular use of Fuel Power/FP 60 for the last 10 months, with nothing higher than 89 octane--I think this has helped some, but I'm not really sure. Maybe I've just learned to keep off the throttle in situations where ping is likely. At any rate, I'm continuing to use it.

Colder plugs this summer--High rpm/load ping is reduced (but still there). Low-speed A/C ping still there. I recently took a long trip through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. Ping was much less noticeable in highway and mountain driving, with an average octane of about 88. Used FP60 also.

The plugs I used are NGK TR-6, stock #4177, under $2 each at NAPA. These are plain plugs, not platinum or iridium, and are one heat range colder than stock. They will probably foul much earlier than the stock precious metal plugs (The originals were NGK Laser Platinums.) I haven't been able to discover a cooler OEM plug--Vettes, Camaros, and Firebirds specify the same plug as the truck engines. The new GM recommendation for the 5.3 is the AC Delco 41-985, an iridium plug gapped at .040. I don't know if they would make a difference in pinging, but I may try them this winter if the TR-6's foul.

Sorry for the long-winded post. Hope it's helpful. This is my first new vehicle, and it seems like I've spent as much time trying to make it run right as I used to spend repairing and trying to make others go faster. To summarize: You are not alone or crazy in your 2001 5.3 frustrations. Cold plugs got rid of some ping. FP60 seems to help also, and I'll continue using it to keep the chambers clean.

 

[TxGreaseMonkey]

drm7, you might have to go two plugs colder, in order to stop the ping. I had to go to a NGK plug made for Preludes, rather than Civics, to cure the problem. Also, make sure you use the lowest viscosity synthetic oil recommended for your Suburban. More viscose oils create more heat.

 

[drm7]

Thanks TxGreaseMonkey and Rhymingmechanic. I'll keep you posted if I'm able to lessen or solve the problem. I hope the pinging doesn't affect the longevity as I need to keep this truck for quite a few more years. Just rolled 55k.